My new project 78 750K

[rickys750]

I just picked up my new (to me) 1978 CB750K, last Sunday 1/10, it wasnt running at the time although I was promised that it just needed a new battery, which was far from the case, in any case I got it home, worked,worked,worked and got it started and down to Lossa Engineering where it sits now www.lossaengineering.com.

Jay at Lossa is super nice and I can't wait to get it back, here are some "before" shots and I'll try to get down to the shop to take some during the build, and finally some after shots. (sorry about the cell phone pictures, i'll use the camera for the rest of the ones i take)

When I got it home:

Noticed that crack, which was great :/

Taken apart to clean carbs, install new rectifier/regulator, ignition switch, fuse block (mine was melted) and spark plugs

Finally got it running at home so I could take it down to Lossa

And here is where it currently sits, awaiting its transformation

I'm a little bummed cause the seat and the tank and side covers were all done really poorly by the last owner and are so ugly, and they are probably the only things i didnt add to the order just yet, so when i get it back im afraid its gonna be a little anticlimactic since it will look pretty much the same for a few weeks while I wait for a tank and seat to come in and be painted. I just couldnt afford to do it all at once, and I didnt want to be without the bike that long either. So I'll get down to the shop in a few days and snap some more pictures of it's progress.

Here's a partial list of whats on the way for this thing before I pick it up in two weeks:

Pull motor, clean and reseal and new gasket kit
Paint motor black
rebuild and rejet carbs
pod filters
rebuild the forks, add gators and p/c lowers black
p/c wheels black
MAC 4-1 (no baffle no muffler)
dyna ignition
tomaselli dual adjustable clip-ons/grips
tires/tubes
handlebar switch elimination
new cables/levers
rear fender elimination
new H4 headlight/ears/headlight visor
All new stainless hardware
...... and the list will go on im sure.

I'll do my best to keep you posted

 

[f1andy]

i have a few engine guards that im selling i noticed you have a cracked one/


andy

 

[rickys750]

i have a few engine guards that im selling i noticed you have a cracked one/


andy

Andy - Thanks but I already replaced it : )

 

[rickys750]

So here is how it is now, torn down almost to the frame....

Turns out i need new rings and cam chain tensioner parts : / sucks, but kind of gives me an excuse to order the 836 kit...hmmmm ; )

Buuuutttt........on the plus side I already had an electronic ignition from a previous owner, so that was a nice surprise and will help cover the bill of the new rings/836 kit.

So, it's still coming along, and in just under a couple weeks she should be back on the road, and in much better shape.

 

[rickys750]

1.27.2010 Update

So as posted above I need at least new piston rings, and my bill at Lossa is already over $2000 : / and I know that there are so many DIYer's on this board and it is really inspiring to me to try to do some of this stuff myself, and to be honest its not for lack of ability (I used to build Honda unibody race cars so I have some technical ability) its really just a lack of space, I dont know of you can tell form the first pictures in front of my garage but I just have no room to tear a bike down and start to rebuild on my own, and also for time's sake, cause i just wanted it done and quickly and I have a full time job that keeps me from working on the bike as much as I want to (im sure most of you can relate to that). However in light of my needing pistons/rings and whatever else theyre gonna find as they dig deeper into the motor and such, I have decided to go back and pick up my frame, forks, and seat, basically the whole bike minus the motor, wheels and tank, and take that home and attempt to rebuild the shocks and strip/blast the frame, swingarm, and fork lowers and try to paint them myself and also possibly attempt to make my seat myself (i have a lot of experience in fiberglass) so any ideas, suggestions, or direction in those fields would be greatly appreciated, especially with the fork situation (taking them apart, stripping, painting and reassembly) and as well with replacing the swingarm bushing. Anyhow, off for now but thanks in advance, everyone on this board is so kind and informative and quick to help wherever they can and I think that that is what has brought me back here time and again even when I had nothing to do but drool over other peoples bikes and to gain inspiration for my own

til next time........

 

[rickys750]

in retrospect I should probably have started this thread in big arse projects : / sorry about that, I dont know if any of the admin can move it for me? if so feel free thanks RD

 

[gribbs]

That Red Rocker bike of his was one of the first Cafes that got me hooked. Good luck on the project man! I also have a 78k 8)

 

[Disco]

great looking project....


I would love to find a 78 running

 

[rickys750]

haha so would i motor is torn apart, just found out I have two bent valves and may also have scarred cylinders so thats where I'm at now, but hopefully by this weekend I'll have it all put back together and running. 4300 dollars later :/

 

[78whiteorbs]

Unreal! you are dropping that kinda change why not just buy a Carpy bike...Toosh~!

When I think of what I could do with that much loot I could build like at least 4 bikes at least. Dang man , I'm just sayin'! Wish my pockets were that deep ;D

 

[joehardy]

I feel your pain ($$$). You're at the hardest part right now- it'll taper off like the flu and then you'll feel much better.

 

[rickys750]

Unreal! you are dropping that kinda change why not just buy a Carpy bike...Toosh~!

When I think of what I could do with that much loot I could build like at least 4 bikes at least. Dang man , I'm just sayin'! Wish my pockets were that deep ;D

I'll tell you why I don't buy a Carpy bike:

the 4300 also includes the price i paid for the bike itself, and CB750's are costly in southern California, just a supply/demand issue, and that amount of money would not get me a Carpy bike, not even close. and on top of that, I don't want one, I used to really like his stuff maybe 4 years ago or so when I had my first CB750, but he is sooo expensive, for instance the solid sate regulator/rectifier, new ignition switch and fuse block that Jay at Lossa charge me $100 for, would ahve cost me almost $300 at Carpy's. He's a nice guy but he is super busy and very expensive and like's to do things his way, which is fine, but just not for me.

On the other hand, Jay builds great bikes, is very attentive to detail, straightforward, lets me have a lot of input into every aspect of the work, and is very reasonably priced (my invoice is almost 2 pages long, there's a lot of stuff); and as I said above, I wish I had the time and space to do this stuff myself at home I'm sure I could save a lot of money, but when youre paying someone else to do something for you, every little thing costs money and so even when he's giving me great prices they add up, and all those little things in the end, end up costing a lot of money, and once I get it back It will be pretty much done, save for the tank and seat, and the motor will have been almost completely rebuilt so I dont think I got a bad deal at all, it's really just about cost vs value which is decided by the individual perspective of the person who has to pay the cost.

So on that note, I like Jay, he's doing a gerat job, I wish the machine shop would work a little faster, but all told I'm happy with what I'm getting and I'm willing to pay for that comfort and reliability. I work 70hr weeks, I dont have time to worry about whether my motor was built properly, and even though it seems like a lot of money, I'd rather spend my free time riding than working on the bike in my garage, and that is something I am definately willing to pay for.

That being said, I am picking up a CB200 pretty soon here and that will get done by me in my garage at home and I'm sure will cost much less and take a lot longer to build.

And that's why I don't buy a Carpy bike (sorry to be so long winded)

 

[rickys750]

I feel your pain ($$$). You're at the hardest part right now- it'll taper off like the flu and then you'll feel much better.

Ya, once I get the motor and new wiring and most of the cosmetic stuff out of the way, I will feel a lot better, hopefully I will have it back in the next few days and it will be in much better shape, I'll post some pictures when I do :thumbsup: